accord
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
idioms
noun
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agreement; conformity; accordance (esp in the phrase in accord with )
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consent or concurrence of opinion
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unanimously
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pleasing relationship between sounds, colours, etc; harmony
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a settlement of differences, as between nations; compromise
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voluntarily
verb
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to be or cause to be in harmony or agreement
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(tr) to grant; bestow
Usage
What does accord mean? To accord is to agree or be in harmony with someone or something. Accord is usually used formally to mean to work together. It is often used in official decrees, analysis of public figures, and governmental affairs. Related to this, an accord is an agreement. In particular when nations agree to something, we often say they have reached an accord, as with the Paris Climate Accords. To accord can also mean to grant or bestow. Oftentimes an item that is accorded is something that will strengthen a relationship or agreement, as with according someone praise or forgiveness. Example: Failure to reach an accord will mean the battle will continue for years to come.
Synonym Usage
See correspond.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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accordernoun
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well-accordedadjective
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unaccordableadjective
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unaccordedadjective
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preaccordnoun
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accordableadjective
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nonaccordnoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has accordedperfect 3rd person singular
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have accordedperfect
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am accordingprogressive 1st person singular
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accordssingular 3rd person
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accordingparticiple
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is accordingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are accordingprogressive
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has been accordingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been accordingperfect progressive
Past
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had accordedperfect
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were accordingprogressive plural
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was accordingprogressive singular
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had been accordingperfect progressive
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accordedparticiple
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accordedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of accord
First recorded in 1100–50; Middle English a(c)corden, late Old English acordan, from Old French acorder, from Vulgar Latin accordāre (unrecorded), from Latin ac- ac- + cor (stem cord- ) “heart” ( see cordial); see also heart
Explanation
An accord is an agreement between groups or even nations, like a formal peace accord that prevents war or the accord between you and your sister specifying who gets to use the car on which days. Accord is an agreeable word. If you and your best friend are always in accord, you agree about everything. And if you do something of your own accord, you do it without prompting from someone else. As a verb, accord means to be in harmony or agreement, or to allow. Perhaps your enhanced vocabulary will accord you, or allow you, a better understanding of language.
Vocabulary lists containing accord
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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ASVAB Word Knowledge
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But it is worth remembering that inflationary forces originating with that accord helped cause the 1987 stock market crash.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
Though the Roberts family’s attorneys have insisted that the buyers and sellers are in accord, preservation advocates in Riverside have called for a review of documents associated with Roberts’ purchase of the property.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026
Regulators at the OCC hadn’t sent referrals to the Justice Department and Pirro’s office opened its investigations on its own accord, according to people familiar with the matter.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
The updated accord facilitates trade in auto parts, a sector particularly affected by Trump's tariffs.
From Barron's • May 22, 2026
And can it now be said: we accord credence in this way because it has proved to pay?
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
